My least favorite part of enjoying the great outdoors is when I get back home and have to deal with all the dirty laundry and shoes. Getting the dirt and stink out of my outdoor gear can be tedious, and sometimes almost impossible. 

Fortunately, I have learnt a few tips and tricks that have made it easier and now I no longer have to deal with clean hiking gear that still smells or has stains. Here are my best tips for washing and deodorizing your outdoor clothing. 

1. Deal With Them Immediately 

My biggest sin, before I saw the light, was dumping my hiking clothes and gear in a pile and leaving it there for days. By the time I came around to cleaning it, stains had gotten deeper into the fabric, mud had hardened on the pants and shoes, and the stink had somehow gotten worse. 

Either wash your outdoor clothing immediately or, at most, the next day. This makes it a lot easier to clean off the dirt, mud, stains and smell. It also protects your clothes from developing mold and mildew, especially if they are damp. Keep in mind that mold and mildew can damage clothes.

Tip: If you have to store your dirty outdoor clothes for sometime, put them in an airy laundry basket. This keeps them from stinking up your home and prevents mold and mildew.   

2. Get a Special Outdoor Laundry Detergent 

The other big part of taking good care of outdoor gear, in addition to cleaning it immediately, is learning how to wash it properly. 

Unlike regular laundry, outdoor clothing is usually a lot dirtier, has more stains and has a lot of foul smells. So the next three tips are all about how to wash and deodorize outdoor gear. 

The first tip is to get a high-performance laundry detergent formulated specifically for active wear. It will do a much better job cleaning and deodorizing sports and outdoor clothing. 

There are plenty of options in stores and online such as Sweat X, HEX Performance, and Rockin’ Green Active Wear. 

3. Pre-soaking is the Best Hack

Chucking very dirty and smelly clothes straight into the washer may not be enough to get them clean and fresh. 

Instead, pre-soak them first for several hours or overnight in the tub or a basin. This loosens dirt and stains, and helps get rid of stubborn smells. Add a bit of laundry detergent to the water when you soak clothes. If they are stinky, add baking soda or vinegar to help deodorize them. 

4. Don’t Pulverize Your Clothes Into Oblivion 

Just because your outdoor clothes are very dirty, it doesn't mean that you need to use the highest and most intense settings on your washer. This will only damage your clothes and it’s not guaranteed to get them clean. 

As long as you are using a good quality detergent and you’ve pre-soaked your extra-dirty clothes, they should be fine with a warm temperature setting. You can use the pre-wash and extra rinse settings to help get them clean. But for most kinds of clothes, do not use hot water (anything higher than 110F). 

Be especially careful with delicate outdoor wear made from wool. Either hand wash these or use the wool/delicate setting on the washing machine. 

Same goes for drying. Too much heat can damage clothes. So tumble dry your outdoor wear on a low setting and remove them immediately they are done. For delicate clothes, consider air drying. 

5. Protect Your Clothing When Outdoors

You can make laundry easier by keeping your clothes from getting too dirty when you are outdoors. Here are some tips. 

• Wear a base layer such as an undershirt or a tank top to wick away body sweat. This will keep your outer clothing from smelling too sweaty since it is not directly in contact with the skin.
• Wear leg gaiters to protect your socks and the bottom of your pants from getting wet and muddy. 
• If you are hiking in wet conditions, a raincoat will protect your clothes and backpack from water and mud.   

6. Get The Right Outdoor Clothing

Another preventive measure that will make laundry easier is wearing outdoor clothing that is resistant to dirt, stains and smells. 

Dark clothing is great because it doesn't get stained easily. And even if it does get some stains, they don't show as much compared to bright clothing. 

Also consider switching to natural fabrics like wool and bamboo. They are naturally odor-resistant, so your clothes don't stink as much. Synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon can be great for outdoors (especially for sweaty activities like trail running), but they stink easily and hold onto the smell for long. 

For the best odor-protection, get some of the Hercleon self-cleaning clothing like the HercShirt and HercSocks. They actively fight off odor-causing bacteria, meaning they stay fresh even when worn repeatedly without washing.